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Estate Planning, Special Needs Planning and Trust Administration

10/16/2026

Many families don’t know about this benefit until someone mentions it. An adult child whose disability began in childhood may qualify for benefits based on a parent’s work record.

Childhood Disability Benefits (formerly known as Disabled Adult Child benefits, or DAC) can change the financial picture for your loved one, and they affect how the rest of the plan fits together. Ellen breaks down how SSI, SSDI and CDB relate to each other.

If you know a family who hasn’t heard of CDB, please pass this along.

10/15/2026

“Cookman Law was organized, efficient, cost effective and friendly. Amiee guided me through many complexities of my situation.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Some situations have more moving parts than others, and our attorney team takes them one step at a time. Thank you for sharing this, and a shout-out to Amiee! 🙌

10/14/2026

Here's a scenario our team sees constantly: a young adult on SSI has zero-cost Medi-Cal. Then a parent retires, the young adult qualifies for Childhood Disability Benefits, and their monthly income goes up by several hundred dollars. Good news, right?

Except that increase pushes them over the Medi-Cal income limit - and now they keep only $600 a month before Share of Cost eats the rest. More income, less to live on.

Ellen walks through what changed in 2026 (and what didn't), plus the 250% Working Disabled Program, which doesn't count disability income at all and defines "work" broadly enough that pet-sitting can qualify. Many families have never heard of it.

If you’d like to watch the full video, it’s live on our YouTube channel!

10/13/2026

We’re proud to share that Ellen has been selected to the 2026 Super Lawyers list!🎉

Super Lawyers recognition is based on peer nominations and independent research, so it means a lot coming from colleagues. Ellen would be the first to tell you it reflects the whole Cookman Law team, and the families who trust us with the people and plans that matter most to them.

Thank you for being part of our community!

10/12/2026

If your loved one receives SSDI instead of SSI, you might assume a special needs trust isn’t necessary. That assumption can cause problems later.

SSDI has no asset limit, but Medi-Cal and other programs may still depend on keeping eligibility intact. Ellen explains when a special needs trust still makes sense for a family on SSDI.

10/10/2026

Today is World Mental Health Day. 💚 To everyone living with a mental health condition, and to the parents, siblings, partners and friends who show up for them every day: we see you. Planning for a loved one with mental health challenges can look different, and there’s support for that too. Take care of yourselves this weekend.

10/09/2026

Laws change, family situations change, and a lifetime trust written today has to keep working for decades. A trust protector is one way to build in some flexibility.

A trust protector is someone you name to step in if the trust needs adjusting after you’re gone, within limits you set. Ellen explains what the role does and why many families planning for a loved one with a disability include one.

10/08/2026

Myth: “Special needs trusts are too restrictive. We’d rather use a “regular” inheritance trust.”

We hear this from parents fairly often, and we understand where it comes from. Nobody wants their child’s inheritance locked behind a list of rules.

But third-party special needs trusts are more flexible than most people expect. A trustee can pay for education, therapies, travel, recreation, technology, and much more. Since 2024, a trust can even cover groceries without reducing SSI.

A regular inheritance trust may feel simpler, but if your child is a beneficiary and relies on SSI or Medi-Cal, a trust without special needs provisions can put those benefits at risk. The right trust depends on your family, and a conversation before you decide can save a lot of trouble later.

10/07/2026

When a child has a disability, everyone wants to help. Grandparents leave something. An aunt adds them to her will. Every one of those gifts comes from love, and any one of them can disqualify the child from benefits.

There's a better structure, and our team sets it up regularly: one standalone special needs trust that exists now, and every relative directs their gift into it. One container, many contributors, across generations.

Ellen also walks through the four mistakes families make after the trust is signed, including the group beneficiary designation that includes a niece or grandchild with a disability. This is a good video to watch before your next family conversation - you can find the full video on our YouTube channel.

10/06/2026

We’re heading to Anaheim! Ellen will be presenting at the 2026 NAMI California Annual Conference, October 8–9 at Hotel FERA Anaheim.

The conference brings together advocates, behavioral health professionals, educators, caregivers and people with lived experience from across California.

If you’ll be there, come say hello! 👋 Our Southern California attorneys Diana Quigley and Makyla Vigil will also be there. 😊

Address

2100 Geng Road Suite 210
Palo Alto, CA
94303

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+16506902571

Website

http://www.cookmanlaw.com/

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